Unhappy Anniversary

June 12, 2002

Twenty years ago, on June 12, I was one of the thousands of marchers in New York City calling for a bilateral halt to the nuclear arms race. Frightened by predictions of unimaginable loss of life and destruction of the environment, people joined the movement calling for a freeze on nuclear arms. It was an inspiring, peaceful demonstration -- a day of great hope.

Unfortunately, the Bush administration's Nuclear Posture Review, delivered to Congress in January, revealed chilling plans to develop and test new nuclear weapons, and their possible use in battle against non-nuclear as well as nuclear countries. It even specifies North Korea, Libya, Iran, Iraq, Syria, China and Russia as potential targets. Today, the threat of nuclear destruction is again making news. Regrettably, the tragedy of Sept. 11 is being used to justify an expanded doctrine for nuclear war.

And let's not be fooled by the so-called arms reduction treaty recently signed by President Bush and Russian President Putin. It does not require a single missile or warhead to be destroyed.

Twenty years ago, I was hopeful. But today, I think we are much more vulnerable because of the administration's nuclear war policies.